Working in the field of Substance Abuse for over twenty nine years, beginning in 1985 with The Salvation Army, I’ve had some of the most wonderful and interesting Fallible Human Beings touch my life.

My husband, Gene, and I worked together for The Salvation Army during those years so his name will show up in some of these stories. When speaking about The Salvation Army, I am referring to The Adult Rehabilitation Centers in Houston, Texas, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Atlanta, Georgia. These long term residential programs are designed to work with the whole man. The Salvation Army had when we were with them 126 such centers across the entire United States. We were fortunate to have worked in three centers in three states.

During the almost fifteen years (1985-1999) with The Salvation Army we met and worked with several hundred men; having problems with alcohol and or drugs. Most of them came to us homeless, desperate, penniless, physically and spiritually bankrupt.  Some I knew for only a brief moment, in time, others for many years. For the most part, many of these men and their stories may have been forgotten. Hopefully, by writing about them they will be honored and remembered.

I have shared many of these stories and over the years people have suggested that I write a book, about incidents I have gone through or witnessed. Some of these stories are sad, some funny even silly but all have played a role in whom and what I am today. I will not put these stories into any chronological order, but just as they come to me.  I honor the anonymity of those that I serve and have served so the names will be changed; but the stories are real.

Many of these Fallible Human Beings stories come flooding into my mind as I facilitate the DUI/Risk Reduction program.  It tells me how truly blessed most of us really are. When appropriate and it relates to the material, I share these with my class.

I began facilitating DUI/Risk Reduction classes in 1999 and some of the stories will come from this experience. I have taught in many locations and will not identify the location or real name of any individual; but again the stories are real.

Recently, I attended a workshop with Beth Hermes, a writer from Canton, Georgia. Beth was an impetus to my thinking that I might try to put some of these stories into a Blog. I also, want to use this arena to share some of my experiences with other F.H.B.’s (Fallible Human Beings) in my personal life. Most will be about family or friends told only with their permission.

You may have already read one or two of these stories on Facebook, please feel free to comment on them.

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